Multiple false-positive reactions in anti-CD4 ELISA testing of dystrophic children.
BACKGROUND
Anti-CD4 autoantibodies are present in up to 10% of HIV infected patients and, until present, they were not recorded in other pathological circumstances.


OBJECTIVE
To test the presence of anti-CD4 autoantibodies in HIV-infected children, using an indirect ELISA test.


METHODS
Cross-sectional controlled study.


METHODS
The study group: 9 HIV infected dystrophic children--3 AIDS (P2A), 6 P1C. Control groups: 9 HIV seronegative dystrophic children; 14 HIV seronegative eutrophic patients presenting chronic hepatopathies, or dialysed patients.


METHODS
1. Indirect ELISA using as antigen sCD4 molecules; 2. Western blot (sCD4); 3. "Antigenic displacement": sera preincubation with sCD4, followed by indirect ELISA.


RESULTS
Indirect ELISA revealed anti-CD4 reactivities in all the dystrophic patients (9 HIV+ and 9 HIV-). WB sCD4 did not confirmed none of these reactivities. Sera preincubation with sCD4 did not significantly modified ELISA CD4 reactivities.


CONCLUSIONS
False positive results (FPR) rate following testing of the presence of anti-CD4 in dystrophic children recommends prudence for the interpretation of such tests. "Antigenic displacement" could be an accessible and easy to perform method in order to eliminate the FPR.
Apetrei
C
C
University of Medicine and Pharmacy Gr. T. Popa, Iaşi.
Mitroi
I
I
Groll
I
I
Duca
M
M
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015483:HIV Antibodies